Type-writing machine.



C. B. CORCORAN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16, 1914. 1,175,410. Patented Mar. 14,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. B. CORCORAN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16, 1914.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.'

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CORNELIUS 'B. COIRCORAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB '10 UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

rYrn-rme MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 14, 1916,

Application filed flotober 16, 1914. Serial No. 866,893.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, Connanms B. Con- CORAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in borough of Bronx, in the county of Bronx, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for typewriting machines for locking the platen after any predetermined number of line-space rotations, and also comprising indicating means to show at any time the number of line-spaces the work-sheet has been advanced either from the first line position, or from any intermediate point at which the attachment is'brought into operation.

The invention is adapted in general to any kind of work where it is desired to lock the platen against further rotation after it has been rotated a certain distance, or for work where it may be desirable to note, during the progress of the work, the number of line-spaces the work-sheet has been advanced from a given point. For example, in making typewritten records of an extended series of articles, each of which may be designated by a serial number or other single line entry, said entries may be written in one or more columns on the worksheet. The platen-locking device may be set to lock the platen after a certain number of lines have been written, thereby determining when a predetermined number of entries have been made on the work-sheet. In making a list of entries covering a number of sheets, the locking device being set for any given number of lines, the same number of entries or items willbe entered on each work-sheet of the series so that the total number of items listed may be readily determined without the necessity of counting the individual entries.

- The invention is also adapted for use as a page-end indicator, and when so used, the

device would be set for locking the platen after the number of line-space rotations required to bring a predetermined bottom margin of the work-sheet to the writing line, so that the operator will not write within said margin.

The inventionis also adapted for various other specific uses. I The counting wheel, geared to rotate with range of the platen rotation to be adjusted,

from a single line-space to any number of line-spaces within the capacity of the mechanism. The adjustable stop is held in any desired position of adjustment by means of a holding rack, which may be in the form of one or more annular series of openings to receive the stop. The counting wheel has connected thereto, or formed as a part thereof, a gear wheel to mesh with a pinion on the platen axle, the diameter of the said gear wheel preferably being greater than that of the pinion to permit the platen to be rotated through a. greater angle than said wheel.

The counting wheel may be provided with a graduated index, preferably consisting of a series of numbers commencing with unity and numbered consecutively along the periphery of the counting wheel. These numbers are brought in succession opposite a sight opening in' the casing surrounding the counting wheel, the numbers being arranged to indicate at any time the number of the line to which the work-sheet has been advanced from the starting position. In order that the counting wheel may, after each operation, be returned to initial position, a returning spring is provided, (preferably a coil spring mounted within said wheel) which operates automatically to rotate the wheel to starting position when the wheel is released from the pinion. The wheel is mounted on a swinging carrier which permits the wheel to be lifted outof meshwith the pinion on the platen axle. The carrier is actuated by a resetting lever 'which has a limited oscillating movement,

and which when swung in one direction separating the gears and permitting-t the "counting wheel, through the influence. of

- operates through a cam to lift said carrier,

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an Underwood platen frame and platen with the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a dissembled view of the parts of the attachment. Fig. 4 is an end elevation view, showing the position of the parts when the platen is locked. Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the resetting lever thrown forward to disengage the gears, and the counting wheel thrown byits spring to the limit of its backward movement. Fig. 6 is a detail view, showing an index number at the sight opening in the casing. Fig. 7 '1s a view showing the parts in the same position as in Fig. 5, but viewed in the opposite direction. Fig. 8 is a front sectional elevation view. Fig. 9 is a face view of the counting wheel and the. adjustable stop thereon.

A platen 1 is fixed to an axle 2 journaled in the ends 3 and 4 of the platen frame,

-. said ends being connected by an inclined paper shelf 5 at the rear of the platen. Types 6 operated by the usual mechanism strike against the work-piece at the front of the platen. -The platen may be rotated either by hand wheels 7 on the platen axle, or by the usual line-space mechanism comprising a line-space lever 8 which operates a slide 9 carrying'a pawl to drive the linespace ratchet wheel 10 fixed to the platen axle, and thereby rotate the platen. The parts above described may be those of the commercial Underwood typewriting machine.

The means for locking. the line-space lever and platen afterany predetermined number of line-space rotations, comprises a locking wheel or disk 11 (which also serves as a line-counting wheel) geared to the platen and rotated thereby from a starting.

position through an angle determined by the position of an adjustable stop 12 which,

at the limit of said rotation, is brought into engagement with a cooperating counterstop 13 mounted on carrier 18. .The initial position of the locking wheel is determined by a stop 14 on the wheel, which engages the counter-stop 13 when the locking wheel is in its startingv position, that is, at the limit of its backward rotation.

The locking wheel is rotated by a pinion arm of a bracket 20 mounted on the platen frame. The carrier 18 is shifted to move the locking ,wheel into and out of mesh with the pinion by means of a resetting lever 21 pivoted at 22 to an upright arm 23 of the bracketand provided with a pin 24 working in a cam slot 25 formed in the carrier. When the lever 21 is swungforwardly to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7 ,'the' pin 24 is moved rearwardly along the inclined cam slot 25, and thereby lifts the carrier 18 to separate the gears. When said lever is moved back to a vertical position (Fig. 4),

the pin 24, working in the slot 25, swings the carrier 18 downwardly and brings the gears into mesh and operates positively to hold them in mesh until the lever 21 is again thrown forward. The pin 24 extends through a guiding slot 26 in the bracket arm 23, said slot being concentric with the pivot 22. The slots 25 and 26 limit thethrow of the lever 21, the latter being yieldingly held at either limit of its throw by a leaf spring detent 27 hearing against the pin 28 on the resetting lever 21. The pins 24 and 28 may be formed by a single pin extending through and projecting from opposite sides of the lever. v

/ In order to automatically return the stop wheel 11 to initial position whenever saidof the wheel 11 and at its opposite end to a pin on' the carrier 18, andis always under tension tending to rotate the wheel 11 backwardly or in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. It will thus be seen that when the resetting lever 21 is thrown forward and lifts the wheel 11 free from the pinion 15, the returning spring 29 will immediately rotate the locking wheel backwardly until the stop 14 thereon isbrought "up against.

the counter-stop 13. The resetting lever maynow be thrown up to connect the locking wheel to the platen. The :forward rotation of the platen will impart a corresponding forward rotation to the locking wheel until the adjustable stop 12 thereon strikes the counter-stop 13 when the platen will be locked against further forward rotation either by the line space lever or the hand wheels 7 a The .stop 12 is held in any position of-'ad-, justment by a rack, which may consistofone or more annular series of opening's' 3l in the wheel 11. By providing two annular V series of openings 31, and placing'the'open- V ingsof the two series in staggered relation as shown, provision is made for small aidjustments of the stop without unduly crowdmg the openings or weakening the structure.

These openings 31 are preferably so positioned thatithe angular distance of. each oted to an arm 33 mounted to rotate freely on the pivot 17. This construction permits the pin 12 to be set in any opening in either the outer or inner series of openings To permit adjustment of the stop pin 12, 1t may be withdrawn lengthwise from the wheel 11 by means of a head 34 on said pin. A coil spring 35 is held under compression between a shoulder on said pin, and the outer end of a housing 36 containing said spring, serves to hold the stop pin 12 in operative position. The locking wheel 11 is also adapted to serve as a counting wheel to indicate at any time the number of the line-space to which the platen has been rotated from the point at which the counting wheel is conf nected to rotate with the platen. For this mencing with purpose a graduated index is provided, preferably consisting of a series of numbers com- 1 and extending in an ascending scale in a rearward direction around the counting wheel. These numbers 37 as shown, are placed on the outer face of the peripheral flange 38 formed on the wheel 11. The casing 39, surrounding the wheel 11 and secured to thebracket 20, is provided with a sight-opening 40 beneath which the index numbers 37 are consecutively'brought into view as the platen rotates. The index numbers are so placed relatively to the initial stop 14 that whenthe counting wheel is in its starting position, the number 1 will appear at the opening 40, that is, whenever the counting wheel is released from the platen by operating the resetting lever 21, the counting wheel will be rotated backwardly to bring the index number 1 to view. When the counting wheel has reached the stop position determined by the adjustment of the stop 12, the index number at the opening 40 will indicate the'number of lines for which the device is set. For instance, if the stop 12 is set for writing five lines, the platen will be locked when the counting wheel has reached the position indicated in Fig. 6, in which the number 5 on the index appears at'the sight-opening 40. With this adjustment only five lines may be written after the counter is set until it is again released or reset. The index number at the sight-opening also indicates at any time the number of the line being written, or towhich the platen has been brought. It will be noted that thexdiamet'er of the wheel 11 is portions shown beingsuch as to admit of several complete rotations of the laten within the range of the counting anflocking attachment.

To facilitate the adjustment of the stop' 12, for anydesired number of line-spaces, a gageline 41 or other indicating mark may be placed on the casing 39 (Fig. 3) in such position that when any index number is brought to the sight-opening with the gage line 41, the device is set for writing the number of lines indicated by said index number.

When it is desired to use the attachment as aline-eountingdevice, the resetting lever 21 may be operated to connect the gears either when the work-piece has been brought into position to receive the first line of writing, or when the writing has advanced to any intermediate position down the page on which it is desired to commence counting the lines. When the resetting lever 21 is left in the Fig. 5 position, the attachment does not interfere in any way with the usual operation of the machine.

The attachment may be used as a pageend indicating device by setting the stop 12 in position to lock the line-space lever and platen when the work-piece has reached a predetermined bottom margin, and when used for this purpose, the attachment will be reset and thrown in gear prior to the introduction of the work-piece to the platen.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of theinvention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having'thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a rotary platen and a locking device for the platen having a limited forward and backward movement,

said locking device and the platen for moving the locking device in a forward direction as the platen is rotated forwardly, a stop to limit the forward movement of said device and thereby lock the platen against further forward rotation, means for disconnecting said' device from the platen when said device has reached its forward limit of movement or while it is in any intermediate position during its forward movement, said releasing means operable to hold the locking device disconnected from the platen and permit independent rotation of the latter, and restoring means for automatically returning the locking device to starting position when it is released from the platen.

2. The combination with a rotary platen,

i of a locking wheel for locking the platen.

greater than that of the pinion 15, the 'pro- 40 and the stop 12 1s then set in the opening in register is rotated forwardly, a sto to limit the f rmeans to automatically rotate said hee backwardly to starting position whenever disconnected from the platen, and a stop to determine the limit of said backward rotation of the wheel, said connectingand disconnectin device operable to bring the locking whee into driving relation with the platen when the latter is at any rotary position, and also operable to disconnect the locking wheel from the platen when said wheel is in any position of rotation within the limits determined by said stops.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen, ofva gear pinion connected to the platen axle, a gear wheel running in mesh with said pinion, a swingin carrier on which said. gear wheel is journa ed, a lever adapted to'swing said car-.. rier, means to swing said carrier to shift the a gear wheel into and out of mesh with said pinion, so that the gear wheel may be driven by the platen at will, a stop connected to said wheel, a cooperating counterstop for engaging said stop and thereby locking the platen, a stop connected withsaid wheel for limiting its rotation in'the op osite direction, and a spring to automatlcally return said wheel to a starting positiondetermined by said last-named stop when the wheel is shifted out of mesh with said pinion.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen, of a gear pinion connected to theplaten, a gear wheel adapted to be driven by said pinion, a sw-in 'ng carrier mounted onthe platen frame an on which said gear wheel is journaled, a shifting lever arranged to shift said carrier and thereby move the gear wheel into and out of mesh with said pinion, a stop connected to said wheel to limit its. forward rotation when running in mesh with said pinion and driven in a forward direction by aforward rotation of the platen, a stop to limit the backward rotation ofsaid wheel, a springfor automatically rotating said wheel back-- wardly when released from said pinion, and a detent for holding the shifting lever in positions to hold the gear and pinion either in or out of mesh.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen and driving pinion fixed thereon, of a locking gearshiftable into and out of mesh with said pinion,

andhaving a limited rotation in both directions, a stop to limit the forward rotation, of said'djocking gear as it is driven by said pinionand. thereby lock the platen, a shift leverfor shifting said gear out of mesh with the pinion, a spring to automatically rotate said gear to its starting position when regear and pinion either in or out of driving enga ement.

6. .lhe combination with a rotary platen,

of a lockin gear wheel adapted to be 10 1 tated by t e platen, a carrier shiftably mounted on the laten frame, and on which saidgear whee is mounted for shifting movement 1nto and out of position to be driven by the platen, stops to limit the forward and rearward rotation of said wheel, a sprin to normally hold said wheel at the limit 0 its backward rotation, and a shifting lever, said carrier formed with a cam slot en aged by a pin on said shifting lever for shi ting the carrier to move said locking gear wheel into and out of driving relation to the platen, said spring operable to automatical y rotatethe locking gear wheel to starting position-when released'from th platen. a

7. The combination with a rotary platen and a gear pinion fixed to theplaten axle, of a p aten-locking gear wheel adapted to run in mesh with said pinion, a carrier shiftably mounted onthe platen frame and on which said locking wheel is mounted for rotation, a lever for shifting said carrier to move the lockmg wheel into and out of driving relation to said pinion, a stop to limit the forward rotation of saidlocking wheel when driven by the platen and thereby lock the'platen, a spring to automatically return the lockin wheel when the latter is out of driving re ation with the platen, and a stop to limit the backward rotation of the locking wheel, said first-named sto being adjustable T to "regu locking wheel and thereby regulate the dis-- tance through which the platen may be ro-,

tated when the locking wheel is brought into operation. v

8. The combination with a platen and .-line-spacing mechanism to impart a 'stepbystep rotation to the platen, of a linecountingndevice, means for bringing said device into and out of driving relation to the platen,- a graduated series of line indicating numbers on said counting device arranged to be brought in succession to indicating polate the extent 0 rotation of the 1 ion sition to indicate the number of the writing line to which the platen has been rotated while said device is in operative relation thereto, said numbers bein spaced to correspond with the angular istances of successive line-space rotations, so that an indicating number is brought to indicating po-- sition at each line space rotation of the platen, and means to automatically return said device to starting position whenever released from the platen, so that when againbrought into driving relation with the platen, the first number of said series is positioned to indicate the first line ofwriting.

arraeio line-spacing mechanism, of a line-counting.

wheel, gearing between said wheel and the platen for rotatin platen is rotated, said wheelreleasable from the platen, means for bringing said wheel to the same starting point whenever release from the platen, a series of numbers on the periphery of said wheel arranged to indicate, after each line-spacing operation, the number-of the writing line towhich the platen has been brought during the connection of said wheel-with the platen and a casin inclosing said wheel, said casing provi ed with an opening through which the numbers. may be exposed in succession.

10. The combination with a platen and line-spacing mechanism for rotating the platen step by step, of a line-counting wheel geared to the platen to rotate when the platen is rotated,a series of line-indicating numbers on the periphery of said wheel spaced at intervals each equal to the angular rotation imparted to said wheel by a linespace rotation of the platen, so that said numbers indicate the number of the writing line to which the platen has been brought during the operation of said counting wheel, means to throw said wheel into'and out of gear with the platen and for holding it out of gear to permit the platen to be rotated independently of the counting wheel, means operable automatically when said wheel is out of gear with the platen to return it to starting position, so that when again brought in gear with the platen, the first index number will be in indicating position, said wheel movable into and out of gear independently of the rotary position of the platen, and a stop to limit the rotation of the counting wheel while in gear with the platen, and thereby lock the platen against further rotation, said wheel provided with a series of openings into any one of which said stop may be set for regulating the extent of rota-- tion of the platen before being brought to stop position, said openings being spaced at angular distances around the axis of said wheel equal to the angular distances apart of the successive numbers on said wheel.

11. The combination with a platen and line-spacing mechanism, of a line-counting wheel, gearing between the platen and said wheel for rotating the latter when the platen is rotated, a series of numbers arranged on the periphery of said wheel, a casing surrounding said wheel and provided with a sight-opening through which a single number of said series may be viewed, said numbers being brought. into'view at said opening in succession as the platen is rotated, said wheel shiftable into and out of driving engagement with the platen, and means operable when said wheel is disconnectedfrom the platen, to automatically rotate the wheel said'wheel when the to such position that when again brought mto driving relation to the platen, the first number of said series appears at said sightopening, the numbers bemgspaced to bring a succeeding number to view at each line space rotation of the platen.

12. The combination with a platen an hue-spacing mechanism, of a line-counting wheel, gearing between the platen and said wheel for rotating the latterwhen the platen is rotated, a series of numbers arranged on the perlphery. of said wheel, a casing surrounding said wheel and provided with a sight-opening through which a single number of said series may be viewed, said numhere being brought into view at said openmg in succession as. the platen is rotated, said wheel shiftable into andout of driving engagement with the platen, means operinto driving relation to the platen, the first v number of said series appears at said sightopening, the numbers belng spaced to bring a succeedin number to view at each line space rotatlon of the platen, and a stop carried by said wheel to limit its forward rotation as the platen is rotated forwardly, and thereby lock the platen against further forward rotation, said wheel provided with means for permitting the adjustment of said stop through angular distances around the wheel corresponding to the angular spacing of said numbers, so that the'stop may be set to lock the platen after any predetermined number of lines have been written.

13. Thecombination with a platen and line-spacing mechanism, of a combined platen-locking and line-counting means, comprising a locking wheel, line-indicating members on the face of said wheel, a gear wheel on the side of said wheel, a swinging device on which said wheel is mounted, a gear wheel on the platen shaft with which said locking wheel gear may be swung into engagement, perforations in the side of said wheel arranged at line space intervals, a rotating arm, a link pivoted to said arm, and

- a pin on said arm, adapted to engage any of the holes in the side of said locking wheel.

14. The combination with a platen and line-spacing mechanism, of a combined platen-locking and line-counting means, comprising a locking wheel, line-indicating members on the face of said wheel, a gear wheel on the side of said wheel, a swinging device on' which said wheel ispmounted, a gear wheel on the platen shaft with which said locking wheel gear may be swung into engagement, perforations in the side of said wheel arranged at line space-intervals, a rotating arm, a link pivoted to said arm,

and a spring pressed pin on said arm adapted to engage any of the holes in the side of iao - platen-locking and line-countin said locking wheel, said pin being long enough to pass through said wheel and protrude from the other side thereof. 1

15. The combination with a platen and line-spacin fixed to said wheel, on one side thereof,

st? a rame stop, a,spr1ng to retract said looking wheeluntil the said stops are in engageme'nt, regularly arranged perforations in said wheel, a swinging link, and a pin mounted in said link, said pin adapted to be adjusted through any of said perforations whereby said pin may be made "to encounter said frame stop whenever said locking wheel is rotated against the tension of said spring.

16. The combination with a platen and line-spacing mechanism, of a combined platen-locking and line-counting whee1,,a

stop fixed to said wheel, on one side thereof,

a frame stop, a spring to retract said locking wheel until the said stops are in engagement, regularly arranged perforations in said wheel, a swinging link, a pin mounted in said link, said pm adapted to be adjusted through any of said perforations whereby said pin may be made to encounter said frame stop whenever said locking wheel is rotated against the tension of said spring, a

gear wheel on said locking wheel, a gear wheel on the platen, and means whereby said gear wheels may be brought into and out of engagement.

17. The combination with a rotary platen,

, mechanism, of a combined.

wh'eel, .a

of a locking gear Wheel adapted to be rotated b the laten, a carrier shiftably mounte on t e platen frame, and on which said gear wheel is mounted for shifting movement into and out of potion to be driven by the platen, stops to limit the forward and rearward rotation of said wheel,a spring to normally hold said wheel at the limit of its-backward rotation, and a shifting lever, a pin mounted on, said lever to'extend from both sides thereof, said carrier provided with a cam slot wherewith the pin on one side of said lever engages to move said carrier, and a spring detent mounted on said carrier and engaging the pin on the other side of said lever.

18. The combination with a rotary platen, of a combined line-counting and platenlocking device having a limited. oscillatory movement arranged to be driven by the platen in one direction and to be automati cally retracted in the other, a swinging carrier in which, near its middle, said device- 

